God of the Bends

This statue was on a bend in the road beneath a house I rented in Corfu last week. Lorry drivers would stop and give thanks for a safe ride up (and down) as the road was choc-full of hairpin bends and wasn't that wide.

Books books books

Books seem to be all about the fucking idiot box these days. I'm 65,000 words into a novel (the fourth I've written and the first to be published) and I'm hoping to bring reading back to the people who make it interesting - the young. I don't mean kids here but the 15-45 age bracket of people who like a good read about some counter-cultural shit. Not the nice educated middle-class women who have hi-jacked the literary festivals of the world.
I recently went to a party thrown by my publisher and was looking forward to meeting some legendary writers who I could talk to about writing. But it was full of people from the telly. All the 'famous' people there had TV shows which feature food, and they were all sticking together like icing to a cup-cake.

In the taxi outta there I realised that I had to take my shit back to where it belonged: underground. Not underground as in some kind of bullshit counter-culture sense, but underground as in I don’t give a flying fuck about projected sales; about the state of the industry or the current climate of the market (completely fucked); about promotional (boring) or legal shit (complicated); about anything other than writing a killer book that I absolutely love and other people may or may not like. It made me think that what I should be doing is writing something that I just have to get out there to keep my sanity from evaporating along with my meagre advance. A book that I have absolutely no choice in writing, not something that’s been focus grouped or tested for viability, but something real.

It is safe to say that in the last few years I had become caught up in the idea of some mainstream success from my work. This was down to the fact that I had a mortgage, a car loan, 2 teenage kids, blah blah blah, but mainly due to the fact that I was thoroughly bored of being skint. I wanted the finical stability that this kind of A-list success would bring and thanks to years of no drinking and drugs (the curse of the Banksy Generation), working my ass off 7 days a week, years relentless self-promotion and – most importantly – getting a powerful agent, I was in a position to become richer and just a little bit famous (comes with the money.) Or so I believed.

But then the writers party shook me out of my trance-like state and everything went and changed inside my head. All I ever wanted to be was a writer of books; books that talked about what it was like to be one of us (the Chemical Generation), books that dealt with coming out of suburbia in the 1980s and being so fucking bored with the surroundings that sometimes, you went and did crazy shit, in-between the usual middle-class suburban bullshit. I certainly didn’t want to be knee-deep in projects that were tailored to a certain market or engineered to be commercial successes.

What the fuck is going on? Really? Then this hit me: How do you have the strength to sit down and write a book knowing that no books really sell unless they accompany some lame-assed god-awful TV show presented by some half-witted inbred twat who’s just going through the motions, doing what they’re told just for the money, or a biography of a z-list sleb/slag/WAG with more tits than sense. What do I do to break out of my life even though I need some mainstream success just to live? There is no way I am going back to working a real job as I’m too far down the road and have burnt (blown up) all my bridges. I’m fucking unemployable. Add this to the fact that just about everything has been done before and nothing is original?

What happened was that there was a blip in the work load in between writing and designing my next non-fiction book Street Knowledge, and the promotional activities beginning, and so I got to work on the novel and I'm nearly there.

See you on the other side...

This is just a test...

There is an interview with me up at 405 magazine whatever thing (not sure what the fuck it's about). It's a nice piece and definitely the calm before the storm, as I've started having meetings with my publicist about Street Knowledge and y'all gonna be sick of the very mention of King Adz by the time Street Knowledge hits the shelves in a coupla months...

INTERVIEW HERE

Work in Progress

Been spending a bit of time recently (in between falling in love with sumac*) creating a series of 5 fly-posters for the launch of Street Knowledge.
Here's a preview of one of them, the colour will be done by hand once the posters (A1) are printed in black and white...
*Sumac recipes on the way...

Cold Killer Pasta

Hung out with my Roman Bella Granny this weekend, and as usual, she cooked a pasta dish. And I got the recipe and cooked it last night...

500g Italian Pasta (Bows, whatever)
1 large Mozzarella
1 pack quality small plumb tomatoes
1 pack Sunblush Sun-Dried Tomatoes (in oil from Deli)
Bunch of fresh basil
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Olives (stuffed with anchovies or garlic or nothing)

Cook pasta an allow to cool in big bowl.
Chop up Mozarella into 1cm chunks.
Chop both Tomatoes in half.
Chop basil.
Chop Olives in half

Bung tomatoes, mozz into pasta bowl, mix, then add Olive oil, S&P, Olives.
Mix well and then serve.

Bella!

BBBBBB BEASTIE BOYS REMIXED

 By Mos DUB: Wicked shit... love remix culture...

Beastie Boys - Doublecheck Your Head by Max Tannone

Weapon of Choice

Mine has to be Photoshop and Final Cut Pro. Anyway enough of the random shit, here's a preview of the back bookends of my new book, featuring my brother from another mother Pilpeled's wicked wicked artwork. Yes Baby!

Mali Video

Have a butchers a this...My Mali Diesel/Only The Brave Film...

Watch it here!

Old School Recipes up at NoNewEnemies

One of the creative crews I belong to is called NoNewEnemies, and they have a killer site filled with all things creative and art-related. They have recently been putting out some of my old recipes. Straight Outta Brussellllllssss....
Click here to make the jump

More Mali Photos up

Just uploaded some more Mali Photos on to my Flickrrrrrrr.
Check them here...

And now for something French!!!

I have a french mate who is a DJ and Food writer, which is a interesting combination. 

He's just put up hisfirst film about a visit to Paris by the DJ Hugo Mendez. It's a interesting combination...

Watch the film here

Segou City Scores!

Just back from Mali, where I took this shot in a town called Segou. The most friendly people and the most amazing shoot for Diesel. More pics here!

A.F.R.I.C.A.

I'm going back to my favorite continent next week. This time I'm off to Mali, where you can't get in unless you actually get the jabs, so I'm writing this with 2 aching arms. I usually just cross my fingers!
But now my paperwork is up to date and all is well. Proofing the new book before I fly and then getting it off to the printers (well, HarperCollins do that), so things are moving along. Books take fucking forever to get out there...(Photo is one of mine from Rwanda, but will keep you posted!)

Orders are to be obeyed at all times: Follow your Leader!

Okay, so as some of you may know I was born out of advertising (hence the name - doh!) and so I still keep my hand in from time to time with some ad work. It is a great time to be looking at the whole ad game as it has changed beyond belief since the interweb revolution, and it is mutating into something that is a cross between entertainment, aural pyramid-selling, soft-porn, and a video game.

As a 'Cultural Leader' I am involved in the UK launch of the Honda CR-Z (I'm holding out for my free car) which is all about Cultural Engineers - people who are being creative and yet at the same time are doing some good. I applaud this as usually it's just about fuckers lining their pockets and trying to get out of paying the creatives for their hard work. (You'll get paid on the next job...)

So put all your prejudices about selling out and advertising aside and follow me into a world of pain, sorry, I mean the dream factory. There are some decent peeps in there...

http://www.dreamfactoryuk.com/cultural-leaders/

And now for something completely fucking different!!!

Been working on a kinda graphic novel for over 10 years now. Here's a couple of pages to jump start your working week after too much 'chocolate'...

It's totally fucked-up and mental view of the world of advertising and creativity.

Fresh Direction for Food/Blogs/Art

These guys got in touch with me from Australia and I love what they're doing. They're called the 'Bookery Cook' and they are doing something very unique with their recipes, art, design, and whole approach to food. As you might have read (check it here) I'm not that fond of what is happening right now with food in the media. You have to check out their blog and join them on FuckBook. Lots of wicked recipes, has to become a great cookbook...

Monday Night is Pasta Night

I'm sorting out a new pasta dish tonight (more later if it's successful), so I thought I stick up a classic NYC dish...


Penne in vodka sauce


Although this dish has not been anywhere near Italy, it is still one of the tastiest pasta dishes, and really easy to make too. Pretend you’re in the New York mafia when you’re eating it and talk about getting someone wacked. Let's just say that this comes under Italian-American cuisine!!!

Feeds 4

salt and black pepper
a good knob of  butter
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pack assorted Italian meat (Parma ham, salami etc), thinly sliced
2 tins chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon caster sugar
2 red chillies, chopped
25ml/1fl oz vodka
500g/18oz penne pasta
1 small pot double cream
freshly grated Parmesan

Put a large pan of salted water on to boil.
Melt the butter in a large frying pan, add the garlic and fry for a couple of minutes. Then add the sliced meat and fry for a further 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sugar, chilli and some black pepper, and cook for 5 minutes before adding the vodka.
Then it’s time to put the pasta into the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes (or whatever it says on the packet).
When the pasta is ready, add the cream to the tomato sauce and cook gently for 2 minutes. While this is simmering, drain the pasta and put back into the big pan. Add the tomato sauce to the pasta and mix well.
Cover with grated Parmesan and serve.

Pro Bono Street Recipes - TRINCHADO

I used to eat this at the Dias Tavern in Cape Town as often as I could. Each time I'd go there I'd alternate between this and the Espedata (a serious Kebab) and I'd always be dragging my copywriter or whoever there for a quick lunch (2 hours that would then turn into a serious Jol).  Last time I was in Berlin I bought this dish from a crazy food stall (actually an old caravan) on a visit to a street festival held in June around the Kunstraum museum and park. It’s from Portugal originally but the recipe has mutated into something very Eurocentric. Bring it on!


Feeds 2

15g/1/2oz unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
675g/1 1/2lb rump steak, cut into small cubes
1 large onion, chopped
3 or 4 small hot red chilli peppers, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
725ml/scant 1 1/4 pints/3 cups beef stock
1/2 bottle red wine
1 bay leaf
1 tin black olives, or a couple of good handfuls
salt and black pepper

Heat a large pan over a medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the butter and oil.  Once the butter is melted, add the beef cubes a few at a time and brown well on all sides. Don’t cook too many cubes at once, crowd the pan or rush this step: this is what gives the dish its flavour. Remove the cooked cubes and leave to one side on a plate.

Lower the heat to medium, add the onion and chilli and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Pour in the stock and red wine. Stir until the sauce thickens a bit, about 3 minutes. Then add the bay leaf, olives, browned beef cubes and any juices that may have accumulated on the plate.  Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 2 hours. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Serve with lots of crusty French bread for dunking.

Killer!!!

My Street Food Cookbook is sizzling on the fire. Been checking out some killer ideas from around the globe, but then again isn't that what it's all about?
Photo above is of an ingredient from back a yard Trenchtown, from one of my new new new recipes that I'm mixing up right now, and the photo below is an inspiration for a dish from a township in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda...

Roll on Summer...

First real day of spring! Sun is shining and everything is sweet, makes me want to move my dancing feet. Praise be to Robert Nesta Marley - rest in peace bru! Roll roll roll on the summer months and outdoor times!!!
I'm gonna leave you with a shot from a festival last year. Don't know who the fuck he is but he was certainly cuddling up to the one he loved!!!